What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most kids (18.3% under 18).

Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Durham	Tompkins
People
Population	2,641Highest	1,187Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.6%Lowest NY: +4.2%	+3.4%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	48.8±5.1Lowest 23% above NY	57.6±5.8Highest 45% above NY
	Tompkins and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±5.2Highest NY: 20.5%	8.8%±1.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
Age 65+	24.2%±7Lowest NY: 17.9%	30.6%±4.9Highest NY: 17.9%
	Tompkins and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	18.8%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.2Lowest NY: 7%	3.9%±2Highest NY: 7%
	Tompkins and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,471±$15kHighest 5% below NY	$61,103±$27kLowest 29% below NY
	Durham and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$245,300±$26kHighest 42% below NY	$185,700±$23kLowest 56% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$844Highest 39% below NY	$483±$80Lowest 70% below NY
	Durham and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,728Highest 43% below NY	$2,487Lowest 62% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.3%±40.8Highest NY: 52.1%	0%±73.7Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Durham and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NY: 14%	8.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92%Highest NY: 54.3%	91.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 17 yrs newer than NY	1992Highest 33 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest about the NY average	70 minHighest 115% above NY
Work from home	13%±7.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	23.5%±13.3Highest NY: 14.9%
	Tompkins and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#100 of 484 in NY	—
School district	CAIRO-DURHAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	CAIRO-DURHAM HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	7.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.